Greens call for living wage for council staff

Reading’s Green Party councillors are calling for the borough’s council staff to be paid a fair living wage.

Rob White and Melanie Eastwood will be proposing a motion at the full council meeting later this month.

The vote will be to get officers to start the groundwork to establish a living wage and maximum wage policy for municipal employees and people working for council contractors.

They say a living wage would ensure the lowest paid workers earn enough to properly provide for themselves and their families.

“Introducing the minimum wage, £6.08 per hour as of October 1, 2011, has been a step forwards,” said Cllr White. “But the reality is that many on the minimum wage, even with tax credits, have barely enough money to get by.

“In Reading, the Green Party would like to see a living wage set at around £8 per hour, and the highest paid council officer earning no more than 10 times the lowest paid worker.

Cllr Eastwood said: “The majority, but not all, people working directly for the council are earning roughly the equivalent of a living wage.

“However, it is unclear as to what people working for contracted-out services are paid.

“In London, there has been cross-party support for a living wage.

“We are working towards such a consensus in Reading, first in the council and then in the private sector.”

The pair have set up a Facebook page to gain support for their campaign.